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fake gibson les paul?


wizardstudios

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Hey there i bought or should say i did a trade with a guy who had a 2000 goldtop les paul standard well when i was showing people a few said it was a fake and others said no way its real so i started digging guitar center said it was a 59 reissue and so i said ok they know thier stuff or at least id think they would,

heres some pics and the one thing that kind of set me off to maybe it was fake is the truss rod ive seen how the truss rod end at the head stock has the nipple like end fo rth etool to adjust it sticking out past the hole and mine didnt, the truss rod was about a quarter inch inside the neck to adjust it with a allen wrench so let me know what you think please

wizard

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I would say even in my limited experience that is fake. I cannot believe GC think it is a reissue????

 

I think you need to post better pictures of the headstock, front and back. I just ran the serial number and it comes back as

 

Your guitar was made at the

Nashville Plant, TN, USA

January 17th, 2000

Production Number: 123

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99% fake. The pictures aren´t too good. But even on these pictures you can see that is has a wrong bridge, with screws instead of pins. Wrong tuners, they should have Gibson stamped on ´em. And as far as I can see on the pictures the headstock doesn´t have glued on winglets.

 

But if you want to be 100% sure, you could also send the pictures to Gibson via e-mail and ask them. Or have it checked at a guitar store.

 

Greetings

Kurt

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yea i called gibson and gave them the serial number and thats what they said if you click on the link and click on the pics in photobucket they are bigger sorry if not good enough

but even the sparkle goldtop was a option in 2000 they sent me a spec sheet on it

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what made you say for sure that it is a fake? i just want to find out cuz i got rid of it and i told the guy i wasnt sure but he said it looks real to him

so i said ok thanks

 

The headstock picture does not look right but that could be the angle. I am not 100% which is why I said in my limited experience and also suggested you post more pictures. There are guys on here that will tell you 100% if it is fake or not.

 

So what is it meant to be a 2000 Les Paul Standard Goldtop?

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yea i called gibson and gave them the serial number and thats what they said if you click on the link and click on the pics in photobucket they are bigger sorry if not good enough

but even the sparkle goldtop was a option in 2000 they sent me a spec sheet on it

 

Check the headstock for yourself. It´s not clearly visible on the pics. The sides of it MUST be glued on. The middle should be as wide as the neck with winglets glued to it. If not, it´s not a real Gibson.

 

On the pic it looks like one piece = fake. Sorry.

 

And Gibson does not use bridges with screwheads visible from above. But this could be a modification someone made.

 

Greetings

Kurt

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Check the headstock for yourself. It´s not clearly visible on the pics. The sides of it MUST be glued on. The middle should be as wide as the neck with winglets glued to it. If not' date=' it´s not a real Gibson.

 

On the pic it looks like one piece = fake. Sorry.

 

And Gibson does not use bridges with screwheads visible from above. But this could be a modification someone made.

 

Greetings

Kurt[/quote']

 

Kurt,

 

Would you mind showing me an image of a real one and a fake so I understand what you mean?

 

I just thought the tuners looked wrong and the shape of the 'scallops' at each side of the headstock looked wrong, as well as the truss rod cover looking too big?

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Kurt' date='

 

Would you mind showing me an image of a real one and a fake so I understand what you mean?

 

I just thought the tuners looked wrong and the shape of the 'scallops' at each side of the headstock looked wrong, as well as the truss rod cover looking too big? [/quote']

 

Sorry, I don´t have a photo bucket account whatsoever, so I have to post a link http://www.elderly.com/images/vintage/20U/20U-12259_headstock-back.jpg

 

I hope it works. Not a very good pic, but you should see the seams on each side.

 

Greetings

Kurt

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yeah i see what ya mean its fake but too late for me to do anything but thanks for the help i found a website for fake gibson les pauls in china they look good i dont see why they dont use a different name and put pride in thier own work they still look fabulous lord knows that goldtop i had did

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This is Real = observe the two 1/2" wide strips of different grain wood running on the extreme left and right on the back of the peg head. Those are the glue on headstock "wings" - used on all Gibson Les Pauls since day one.

20U-12259_headstock-back.jpg

 

 

This is Fake.

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wrong press in Tuner bushings too

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This confirms its a fake:

the truss rod was about a quarter inch inside the neck to adjust it with a allen wrench

 

 

 

OFFICIAL GIBSON POLICY:

Hello all,

due to the increasing number of counterfeit Gibson instruments on the market, I will no longer be able to authenticate guitars simply with a posted serial number. In order to verify the authenticity of your guitar, you will now have to contact Gibson Customer Service and follow the procedure listed below:

 

Identifying a particular model/variation can be difficult, please send the following information to assist us in identifying and/or dating your instrument quickly and accurately-

A complete description including the serial number and any other information written on or inside of the instrument.

Any information relating to the known history of the information (such as when and where purchased, any known repairs or modifications made)

Photos of the instrument (please limit to 2MB total size - emails larger than 2MB will not reach us) – full front, full back, as well as close ups of the front and back of the headstock, also of any inside labels that the instrument may have.

Thank you for writing us.

Gibson Customer Service

1-800-4GIBSON

service@gibson.com

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This is Real = observe the two 1/2" wide strips of different grain wood running on the extreme left and right on the back of the peg head. Those are the glue on headstock "wings" - used on all Gibson Les Pauls since day one.

20U-12259_headstock-back.jpg

 

 

This is Fake.

100_0826_00.jpg

 

 

"BE CAREFUL, THE CHINESE COUNTERFEITERS MIGHT SEE THIS AND REALIZE THEIR MISTAKES, THEN THEY BE ABLE TO MAKE EVEN BETTER FAKES!!!!" I only say this because, I tried to post, a very informitive, and in-depth thread about, the main differences, between the real vs. fake LPs. but it wasn't very well recieved.
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Kurt' date='

 

I think I do see them, thanks for your help, or should I say Danke Schon! [/quote']

 

You´re welcome. Just kindly overlook my english mistakes. That´ll do!

 

 

Sorry wizardstudios, but if it plays alright I´d keep it if I were you.

 

Greetings

Kurt

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well maybe i shouldnt have said fake ... but im thinking it wasnt built by the gibson corporation and when you buya GIBSON LES PAUL for 1400.00 you should expect to get a guitar made in the usa and built by the gibson corporation adn when you purchase a guitar cuz maybe your unexpierenced with gibsons and then you play a guitar like the one i had and wouldnt stay in tune for a number of reasons .

well lets just say it put a bad taste in my mouth and i have a chance to get a 2001 standard for my wolfgang and i dont think im goign to do it .. simply fo rth efact this counterfeit peeved me off

but guys i took it in stride.

it was just i waited 35 yrs to get a paul and then i find out it wasnt built by gibson.

sounds stupid but i been playing 20 yrs and that was the guitar my heros played so yeah i wanted to be like em and it made me mad to get ripped off lol

BUT next time I 'll kno wwhat to look for

thanks

wizard

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"BE CAREFUL' date=' THE CHINESE COUNTERFEITERS MIGHT SEE THIS AND REALIZE THEIR MISTAKES, THEN THEY BE ABLE TO MAKE EVEN BETTER FAKES!!!!" I only say this because, I tried to post, a very informitive, and in-depth thread about, the main differences, between the real vs. fake LPs. but it wasn't very well recieved.[/quote']

 

You think they couldn´t do already? They may have internet as well. They may even have an original Gibson to check their copies. If I was to copy guitars industrially I´d get me an original. Some of those forgers even have the original machines and plans, because lots of companies are building their factories where ever work is cheap. How much would you think would it take to gibsonize an Epiphone for example?

 

But most important it has to be a lot cheaper than the original and therefore you´ll always be able to tell a fake if you need to.

 

I don´t believe in all those theories of conspiracy about fake questions. And I report every fake I spot, on e-bay or anywhere else to be sold as original, to Gibson.

 

But if you bought a guitar, or decided to buy one, whom would you ask? By the way, you could even ask Gibson. By showing the pics to them they´d tell you as well. But maybe they are working for the chinese too.

 

Greetings

Kurt

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That is an excellent point Kurt. chances are they can make perfect copies whenever they want, but because they don't want to bring down the wrath of all the gibson might, and because of production costs they will just keep making rubbishy copies...... people are still fooled by them and people still spend the money.

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That is an excellent point Kurt. chances are they can make perfect copies whenever they want' date=' but because they don't want to bring down the wrath of all the gibson might, and because of production costs they will just keep making rubbishy copies...... people are still fooled by them and people still spend the money.[/quote']

 

Do you really think that someone who can build a complette guitar like the one shown wasn´t able to glue on wings or use bridges without screws?

 

And it is a fact that you can check serial numbers and anything else on Gibsons homepage. And from reporting the fakes that I found on e-bay, I can tell you for sure that even Gibson tells you if it is a fake or not and why if you want.

 

Another thing is that mostly the chinese copies are offered for around 300.- dollars/euros. The main problem as far as I noticed are people that buy these and try to resell them as a real one.

 

And another thing is that this is only my personal opinion. I have never heard of any fake car, camera, rolex, guitar whatsoever that was exactly like the original. And most of those things aren´t sold for the original price by the original seller/forger. Well over worth - maybe, but still a lot cheaper than original.

 

Don´t underestimate the forgers. They could do better. But there business is to build cheap items for those who are happy when it´s got Gibson or Rolex written on it for little money for example. And their customers are mainly people that couldn´t afford or wouldn´t care to buy the original.

 

Greetings

Kurt

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Another thing is that mostly the chinese copies are offered for around 300.- dollars/euros. The main problem as far as I noticed are people that buy these and try to resell them as a real one.

 

And another thing is that this is only my personal opinion. I have never heard of any fake car' date=' camera, rolex, guitar whatsoever that was exactly like the original. And most of those things aren´t sold for the original price by the original seller/forger. Well over worth - maybe, but still a lot cheaper than original.

 

Don´t underestimate the forgers. They could do better. But there business is to build cheap items for those who are happy when it´s got Gibson or Rolex written on it for little money for example. And their customers are mainly people that couldn´t afford or wouldn´t care to buy the original.

 

Greetings

Kurt[/quote']

 

Well said Kurt=d>

 

Most people worry about counterfeiters getting "the info they want" from this site when with the money they are making they could just go to a store and buy the real thing and copy it to the last detail, it's that easy.

 

As you say, builders sell them very cheap, they are meant for people that don't care and cant or dont want to spend more, the real bastards are those that buy them at 200 and try to sell them for 1500 or more to people that are not aware.

 

 

 

Of course I hate when someone comes saying your stupid for buying your gibson for 2000 at the authorized dealer when they bought "the same guitar" for 1000 at "this guys underground shop" (and then they wont admit theirs is a 200 bucks fake)

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The counterfeiters are getting better each year. I'm sure they've bought real Gibsons at this point to fine tune their deceit. I would agree that the guitar in question is one of the Chinese knockoffs. I don't think Gibson uses Allen screws for their truss rod adjustments, all the ones I've seen have a brass nut. That case looks real fugazy too, the handle is almost as large as a strap.

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